IT was one of the most famous golfing quotes of all-time, uttered by Jack Nicklaus about Tiger Woods seven years ago.

The winner of a record six Masters titles and a record 18 major titles had just played a practice round at Augusta National with Woods, an amateur at the time, and Arnold Palmer, holder of four green jackets.

They played the eve-of-tournament par three competition together as well. And then Nicklaus gave his traditional press conference.

Although he was happy to talk about the state of his own game and the state of golf in general, it was what the Golden Bear said about Woods which grabbed the headlines.

Nicklaus was left in no doubt that the 20-year-old had the ability to win "more Masters than Arnie and I put together." In other words, at least

Two days later, unlike the 56-year-old Nicklaus, Woods was out of the event. While he led the driving distance statistics with an average of 342 yards and the driving accuracy statistics, missing only two fairways, he had scored back-to-back 75s and missed the halfway cut by four.

The world had to wait 12 months to see what Nicklaus meant for, on his Masters debut as a professional, Woods tore up the record books. After going to the turn in 40 on the opening day he played the remaining 63 holes in 22 under par.

That meant a new record total of 270, 18 under par, and with Tom Kite a massive 12 strokes back in second place it was the widest margin of victory ever as well. And Woods was only 21, making him the youngest-ever winner.

Colin Montgomerie was second at halfway and therefore partnered Woods in the third round. He scored 74 to the American's 65 and, still shell-shocked it seems, closed with an 81.

Now the time has come to see if Woods, current holder of three Masters and eight majors, can create another record - three wins in a row at Augusta.

It is something that only Nicklaus and Nick Faldo have had a chance to achieve.

In 1967 Nicklaus missed the halfway cut, his second-round 79 standing as his worst Masters round until an 81 three years ago, while in 1991 Faldo finished 12th, five behind Ryder Cup team-mate Ian Woosnam.

Woods is not daunted by the prospect of trying to go where no man has gone before. That is something he is used to by now.

"I'm pretty excited about the Masters coming up. I'm excited about the possibility of having an opportunity to go for three straight Masters," he said.

"It's something that I know has never been done before and I'm certainly looking forward to it. It's going to be one heck of a challenge, but hope-fully one that I'll be prepared for.

"As everyone always knows, there's something special about playing there and playing there year after year helps even though they make changes every year. A lot of the greens stay the same.

"When you're preparing you know what the golf course looks like. You know what the holes are. You know what clubs you're going to have to face going to each and every green. The rest of the majors, it's not necessarily the case.

"I think I was answering more questions going into the 2001 Masters than this one because I had a chance to hold all four majors at one time and no-one had ever done that.

"Granted, no-one has ever won three straight Masters either, but four majors in a row is probably going to be a bigger feat than winning three straight Masters.

"Every pursuit's fun. Every challenge is fun to me. I look forward to getting out there and competing in it and trying to win it.

"Once that gun blows and you play, you start on the first tee, it's just like every other tournament. You put things aside and you play one shot at a time."

And Woods reports himself in great shape after his knee problem.

"I really haven't had to make any adjustments. My swing has naturally come back knowing the fact that my knee now is pain-free and is stable."

Mentally Woods has always appeared to be in a league of his own.

The thought that he might be physically in better shape than ever means nobody can yet dismiss Nicklaus' statement seven years ago.